I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE WHO VISITED PLATYPUS ON TUESDAY.

Steve Burke pictured here
with fellow Port Commissioner's

Beauvais (Center)  & McAleer. 

Apparently I wasn't the only one that visited the muddy soup of land which Platypus is now currently leasing from the Port. I know I been petty hard on the Port these pass few days. Keep in mind that it's the history of the Port's demeaning attitude toward one Port tenant, who only want's the expand his business, and perhaps pave the way for more employment opportunities. Not, saying that any of this is the fault of the current board of commissioners, but they could see these stories I posted up as a wake up call. At least one Port Commissioner is now showing boots on the ground literally approach. I found out by email from the newly appointed Port Commissioner Steve Burke, he too went down to Platypus marine and toured the facility in question, and been a hot topic in this publication. Burke in an email he sent told me he went down there on Tuesday during the afternoon hours apparently, long after yours truly visited the facility in the morning. The following are exchanges Burke and I had via email:

The Ripley Report: Steve, As a curtsy, I share my publication link to governing authorities. You are most welcome to make comment on any stories I post. All the best in your endeavor Steve, can the Port solve the Platypus issue in time? I know this is a bit much since you just came on board of this, I can empathize with the owner of Platypus this been going on for decades, and he is fed up with it all.
I went down there and experienced first hand the working conditions Steve. And I got to tell you the Port ought to be embarrassed. So you think the Port can come up with something before six months?

Port Commissioner Burke's: thanks for the link.  I will try my best to do what we can to keep Platypus here, they are a good business for our community.  But at the end of the day, it will be up to Platypus.

 Yours truly while touring Platypus on Tuesday
Morning.

The Ripley Report: Steve, Whats needed here is a hands on approach on this, not just more debate. If folks see you down there visiting that place, especially after it rains, it would go along way of showing the folks you are out there and not afraid to stand in the mud. The port as a whole should be embarrassed by all of this.

Port Commissioner Burke:  I was down there for two hours on Tuesday and toured all the facilities and then sat down with them and tried to find some common ground in order to make some progress.

The Ripley Report: Steve, I went down there too on Tuesday, in the morning time. Took some pics of the area, and was shown around. So, I guess I missed you. If you would like to share more of your visit feel free to send me your story.

Port Commissioner Burke: I think the only part of the story that has not been discussed is that the lease with platypus has always been an “unimproved dirt lease” with all improvements the responsibility of Platypus.  That is why the lease price is so low.

Readers, if that is the case, that it is up to the tenant to improve the land that they are leasing, then the argument for letting the tenant buy the property outright is made stronger. Why should the business owner spend millions on upgrades to the land he is leasing, if it's not his own land? Now, if you had your own land, naturally you would want to develop it right? I still say that it should be the responsibility of the land lord, which is in this case the Port should be repairing the drainage systems, and laying asphalt on that whole plot of land, so the tenant could focus on expanding their business and trade. The same deal that Westport marine got should be granted to Platypus Marine plain and simple.


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DAILY DEVOTIONAL

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